DC TRUST Guide 1023 - Children & Youth Investment Trust ...

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f. Activities provide consistent opportunities for group discussion and personal reflection. g. Program exposes young people to experiences not readily available within their communities. h. Program has goal sheets co-developed with individual young people. i. Staff encourages young people to problem solve and models that process. j. Staff communicates its own pertinent experiences as young people. 4. There are sufficient and appropriate materials to support program activities and projects. a. Materials are complete and in good condition. b. There are enough materials for the number of young people. c. Materials are age appropriate for the young people. d. Materials are culturally and linguistically relevant. 5. Activities and projects provide opportunities for leadership development. a. Young people get the opportunity to take on different roles within activities and projects. b. Young people have the opportunity to design, initiate and implement their own ideas for activities and projects. c. Program has opportunities for autonomous group discussion and reflection. d. Staff teaches young people to work in teams, sharing responsibilities and roles for accomplishing tasks and solving problems. e. Staff models the acknowledgment of strengths and accomplishments of different young people. f. Young people have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the governance and decision-making structure of the organization. 6. Program activities and projects are designed and documented for the long-range benefit of both staff and students. a. There is a way for young people to have meaningful input into their activities. b. Young people can savor achievements and build portfolios. c. Steps for implementing activities and projects are documented so they can be replicated. d. Activities and projects are aligned with work plan objectives. Field Guide to OST Best Practices / High-Interest, Hands-On Activities / 13 ◆ COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT High quality after-school programs, especially those that provide academic enrichment, seek to create connections with the curriculum and instruction offered by schools during traditional school hours. It is crucial that programs do not duplicate but rather supplement school day programming by using creative and relevant ways of learning that promote cognitive exploration and growth. Such programs not only promote mastery of core skills, but also
help integrate them through the practical and engaging use of real-world skill application and skill intersection. Such out-of-school time programming also works to build young people’s skills in problem solving, communication, teamwork, reflection, perseverance, resilience and conflict resolution. 1. Program activities include opportunities to expand comprehension, build skill mastery, and also increase facility to analyze, synthesize and evaluate. a. Activities are varied enough in their degree of challenge so that young people at different skill levels and of different learning styles can participate, benefit and experience success. b. Activities focus on developing critical thinking as well as subject mastery. c. The steps in some activities are sequenced to help all young people move from basic comprehension and understanding to using that knowledge to analyze, synthesize and evaluate. d. Program engages young people in thinking about how they learn and in forming an understanding of which ways work best for them. e. Program promotes and models problem solving and engages with young people in discussing its value in academic, professional and personal situations. f. Program promotes independent thinking and questioning within the media and messagerich environments of contemporary life. g. Program provides young people with opportunities to use their understanding of media strategies to forward their own ideas and ideals. 2. Program staff intentionally aligns OST activities to DC Public Schools’ Learning Standards and connects OST skills to school and life. a. Staff works intentionally to integrate educational opportunities into activities that complement, support and enrich classroom-based instruction (e.g. interaction with teachers, familiarization with DCPS website scope and sequence, navigating learning standards). b. Staff selects program materials and teaching strategies that are sound, engaging and intentional. c. Staff actively assists young people with homework. d. Staff actively engages young people in connecting skills and concepts used in OST activities to life outside the program. 3. Program activities are relevant to the lives of its young people. a. Young people can select from a variety of activities that are designed around their interests. b Learning materials and resources reflect the culture of the young people in the program. c. Learning materials and resources highlight a variety of practitioners, professionals and role models. d. Young people are able to discuss how programming has affected their lives. e. Staff helps young people to find the connection between their interests and program activities. f. Program provides ample opportunity for discussion. g. Program provides young people with the opportunity to explore their own interests through reading and writing. Field Guide to OST Best Practices / High-Interest, Hands-On Activities / 14
Page 1 and 2: a f i e l d g u i d e t o Best Prac
Page 3 and 4: T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S INTRO
Page 5 and 6: 1 HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS The main reas
Page 7 and 8: e. Staff models the acknowledgment
Page 9 and 10: d. Program offers staff access to r
Page 11 and 12: 2 PROGRAM DESIGN AND PLANNING Inten
Page 13: Field Guide to OST Best Practices /
Page 17 and 18: . Program interconnects separate ma
Page 19 and 20: c. Program engages young people in
Page 21 and 22: . Programming incorporates technolo
Page 23 and 24: c. Program provides opportunities f
Page 25 and 26: 5. Program connects work and learni
Page 27 and 28: c. Program fosters awareness in you
Page 29 and 30: . Program gives young people the op
Page 31 and 32: e. Program teaches how to evaluate
Page 33 and 34: 3 CIVIC DEVELOPMENT In our work wit
Page 35 and 36: ◆ COMMUNITY CONNECTION It takes a
Page 37 and 38: 4 The program is offered in a safe,
Page 39 and 40: k. For continuity of service, progr
Page 41 and 42: f. Program actively partners with o
Page 43 and 44: c. Vehicles used for program transp
Page 45 and 46: e. Program provides snacks and meal
Page 47 and 48: f. In shared space, program clearly

DC TRUST Guide 1023 - Children & Youth Investment Trust ...

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